Rail-joint.



No. 800,104. PATBNTED SEPT. 19, 1905.

0. S. HENDRICKS J. DJTERHUN E.

' .RAIL JOINT.

APPLIOATI OR FILED D30. 20. 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. sept. 19, 1905.

Application filed December 20, 1904- Serial No. 287,615.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, OMER S. HENDRICKS and JOHN D. TERHUNE, citizens ofthe United States of America, residing at Franklin, in the county ofJohnson and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements 1n Ball-Joints, of which the following isa specification.

. This invention relates to rail-joints, andmore particularly to thatclass known as "webblock.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of this characterthat is of novel construction and will effectually hold the opposingends of rail-sections secured.

It is also an object of the invention to provide novel means in a deviceof this kind wherein the knocking or pounding of the rail ends isreduced to a minimum. Y

A further object of the invention is to provide means in combinationwith the device whereby the invention may be applied and held inposition without the use of bolts.

Still further, it is an object of the invention to provide a device ofthis kind that will be simple in construction, efficient in practice,and economical to manufacture.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in thedetails of construction and in-the. arrangement and. combination ofparts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail reference will be had to theaccompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, wherein likecharacters of reference will denote corresponding parts in the severalviews, and in which Figure 1 is a view in perspective and partly insection, showing the invention applied. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view intop plan of two rail-sections, showingthe invention in position. Fig- 3is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a view in perspectiveof the web-block detached. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of arail-section, taken on the line 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a side elevationof a modified form of the invention. Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 6of Fig. 6; and Fig. 7 is a Interposed between the ends of the rails isthe I web-block f, which conforms to the contour of the rails. Formed atthe upper end of the block andcentrally of the width thereof are theopposing lugs or extensions 9, which have the under surfaces of theirends rounded, as at it, to fit within the recesses 0 cl of the rails.The lugs do not fit snugly within the recesses,

.but leave the spaces 6, when assembled, to allow for the expansion andcontraction as it occurs.

It is preferable, though not shown, that the block be placed on across-tie. It will thus be understood that a train passing over the rail(4 will bear somewhat on the block f before entirely leaving the saidrail a and that .the train will bear on the 'rail Z) before entirelyleaving the block f. In this way the knocking or pounding of the railsis greatly reduced and the loss for repairs is minimized and the comfortof travel enhanced.

Formed integral with the web of the block f are the fish-plates j, whichextend a suitable distance to either side of the block and have theirends k beveled. These plates bear against the web of the rails andrigidly or securely hold the rail ends in position, and-thereby obviatethe necessity of bolts. The application of the invention is thought tobe perfectly apparent to those familiar with th art.

In F igs. 6, 6, and 7 is illustrateda device that is similar to thepreceding invention, with the exception that the plates 1 are separatefrom the block 2, and the plates 1 are secured to the rails'3 and 4 bymeans of the bolts 5, which can be readily understood.

The block 2 is also provided with the'lugs' 6 7, that are adapted torest or fit within recesses 8 of the rail-sections.

The efficiency and many advantages of the invention will, it'is thought,be fully understood from the foregoing description, it being noted thatall changes may be resorted to that fairly fall within the scope of theclaims attached hereto without sacrificing the value I recesses formedintheir heads, the inner ends of the bottoms of said recesses beingbeveled, 'a block adapted to be interposed between the opposing ends ofthe rails, said block conforming to thecontour of the rail, oppositely-IIO extending lugs formed at the top of the block adapted to rest Withinthe recesses of the railseetions, said lugs having their under surfacesat the ends beveled, said lugs being of less length than the recesses,and plates formed With the Web of the block and extending to either sidethereof, said plates being adapted to engage the Webs of therail-sections.

2. In combination with rail-sections having recesses formed in theirheads, the inner ends of the bases of said recesses being beveled, ablock adapted to be interposed between the opposing ends of the rails,said block eonforming to the contour of the rail, andoppositely-extending lugs formed at the top of the block adapted to restwithin the recesses of the rail-sections, said lugs having the underOMER b. HENDRICKS. JOHN D. 'IIGRIIUN 1G.

\Vitnesses:

OTIS B. Snminns, lvoRY J. .l hn'mmixn.

